ARCADIA — Police jailed an Altadena man last week on suspicion of biting and head-butting an officer following a solo-car crash, authorities said Tuesday.
Terry Riley, 29, was booked on suspicion of felony battery on a police officer, Arcadia police Sgt. Tom Le Veque said.
The incident began about 3:45 a.m. Friday when officers responded to a report of a car crashing into a pole about on Tyler Avenue at Live Oak Avenue, Arcadia police said in a written statement.
Riley, “was acting aggressively toward firefighters on scene, telling them that he wanted to die,” according to the police statement.
Riley began struggling with police officers, police said, and allegedly head-butted the officer, opening a cut, and bit the officer on the forearm hard enough to break the skin, Le Veque said.
Officers used a Taser to subdue Riley and take him into custody, officials said.
Officials also suspect Riley may have been drinking and taking prescription pills at the time of the crash, Le Veque said, and police are also investigating the man on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Riley was held for a psychological evaluation, Le Veque said. He was booked at the Arcadia Police Department’s jail Sunday after being released from the psychological evaluation.
The injured officer was given several days off-duty due to the incident, the sergeant said, but was expected to make a full recovery.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Riley was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.